Vicki Zhao Wei Movies
- 2006
An elderly woman discovers her trusting nature is a severe disadvantage in the 21st century in this comedy drama from Chinese filmmaker Ann Hui. Ye Rutang (Siqin Gaowa) was born and raised in Manchuria, but came to Shanghai to seek her fortune years ago. Now in her early sixties and once again single, Ye is uncomfortably aware that the China she knew as a young woman is changing radically, and she senses she's fallen behind the times when she loses a position as a tutor because her English doesn't sound "American" enough. As Ye looks for work, she begins to fall victim to a series of con artists, including a Chinese opera singer (Chow Yun-Fat) who uses his charm to pull her into a scheme selling futures on funeral plots; a neighbor fallen on hard times (Shi Ke) who isn't as bad off as she claims; and even her own 12-year-old nephew (Guan Wenshuo), who fakes a broken leg to get after her savings. Ye's misadventures leave her penniless, and she is somehow implicated in the grim fate of a local busybody (Lisa Lu), forcing Ye's daughter (Vicky Zhao Wei) to come to a reluctant rescue. Yi Ma De Hou Xian Dai Sheng Huo (aka The Postmodern Life of My Aunt) received its North American premiere at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Siqin Gaowa, Chow Yun-Fat, (more)
A man expecting to give a woman a new hairstyle instead winds up giving her his heart in this romantic comedy from Hong Kong. Zhang Tian (Richard Ng) is the successful proprietor of an automobile company who has just made the surprising discovery that he's the father of a grown daughter, Zhang Ning (Vicki Zhao Wei). Ning has been living on the poor side of Shanghai for years, and in Tian's mind doesn't look like the daughter of a business tycoon. Thinking she needs some sprucing up, Tian hires Joe (Ekin Cheng), a cosmetologist between jobs, to give Ning a makeover and show her how to behave in polite society. It doesn't take long for Joe to discover his job is harder than he expected, but things get especially complicated for him when he realizes he's falling in love with her. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ekin Cheng, Vicki Zhao Wei, (more)
As Goddess of Mercy begins, Yang Rui (Liu Yunlong) is a callow womanizer in Beijing. He's always looking for action, which eventually leads him to An Xin (Vicki Zhao), who works at the local tae kwon do school. The more she spurns him, the more adamant he becomes. One rainy night, he goes too far, grabbing for her as she tries to enter her home, and she delivers a roundhouse kick to his head. He wakes up in her apartment, and apologizes to her. An Xin won't talk about her past. They begin a fragile courtship. He learns that she has a young son. A jealous ex gets wind of his new relationship, and arranges to have him brought up on embezzlement charges. An Xin helps him get out of jail, but then runs run off, leaving a long note. The film flashes back to An Xin's past as a gung-ho policewoman engaged to a journalist, Tienjun (Chen Jianbin). Assigned to a dangerous and remote district, she was forced to spend months away from him. Eventually, she met a brash young man, Mao Jie (Hong Kong heartthrob Nicholas Tse), and the two had a brief affair. Later, on a drug sting, she found out that Mao was a criminal. She took part in a deadly raid to bring down his family. An Xin reunited with Tienjun and they were married, after which she found out she was pregnant. Mao was released from prison and took vengeance. An Xin has left town because she believes that she's a destructive force, but Yang sets out to find her. Based on a popular novel by Hai Yan, Goddess of Mercy was directed by Ann Hui and had its U.S. premiere at the 2004 New York Asian American International Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicholas Tse, Vicki Zhao Wei, (more)
Chinese Odyssey 2002, produced by Wong Kar-Wai, is writer-director Jeff Lau's energetic parody of Chinese kung fu epics, with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in. Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) plays the Emperor, who, desperate for the free-spirited life of a wanderer, tries to escape from the royal palace with his sister, the Princess (Faye Wong, little seen since starring in Wong's Chungking Express). He's caught and returned to his angry mother by the royal guards, but the Princess, disguised as a man, manages to escape. Meanwhile, King Bully (Tony Leung, who also starred in Chungking Express) has returned to his hometown, where he is widely despised for his bullying ways, to run a restaurant with his tomboy sister, Phoenix (Vicki Zhao of Shaolin Soccer). They have a very close relationship. In fact, King Bully mistakenly believes that he can read his sister's mind. When the Princess arrives in town, King Bully finds himself drawn to her, but, believing she's a man, decides that his attraction is some kind of empathy with Phoenix. King Bully and the Princess spend a night eating and drinking together. In the morning, the Princess leaves. King Bully, determined that the Princess will marry Phoenix, vows to bring the charismatic young "man" back. She does return, but soon realizes that the royal guards are following her. Meanwhile, the Emperor convinces his mother to let him leave the palace to go look for the Princess. By the time he gets to town, the Princess has been carted off by the royal guards, with King Bully in hot pursuit. He's immediately attracted to Phoenix. More confusion ensues. Chinese Odyssey 2002 had its U.S. premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. The film was awarded Best Film, and Faye Wong Best Actress, by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Faye Wong, (more)
One of Hong Kong's top screen comics, Stephen Chow, co-wrote, co-directed, and headlines this three-way blend of sports, action, and humor. Sing (Stephen Chow) is a modern-day Shaolin monk who has become a master of traditional fighting skills, and is renowned for his "leg of steel." However, these days there isn't much call for a Shaolin warrior, and Sing and his fellow monks earn their keep working menial jobs until a soccer coach gets the bright idea of translating Sing's talent for kicking to the soccer field. Sing becomes the lynchpin of a team playing in a tournament that could net them a $1 million purse, but even with Sing's footwork, beating the steroid-fueled champions will be no easy task. Shaolin Soccer also features Man Tat Ng and Vicki Zhao. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Chow, Zhao Wei, (more)
